Imitându-L pe Cristos în smerenie

Aşadar, dacă este vreo încurajare în Cristos, dacă este vreo mângâiere în dragoste, dacă este vreo părtăşie cu Duhul, dacă este vreo afecţiune şi vreo îndurare, faceţi-mi bucuria deplină şi aveţi o simţire, o dragoste, un duh şi un gând! Nu faceţi nimic din ambiţie egoistă, nici din îngâmfare, ci, în smerenie, consideraţi-i pe alţii mai presus decât voi înşivă. Fiecare dintre voi ar trebui să fie preocupat nu doar de interesele lui, ci şi de ale altora. Să aveţi în voi gândul acesta, care era şi în Cristos Isus,

Cel Ce, existând în chip[a] de Dumnezeu,
    n-a considerat că a fi egal lui Dumnezeu
        este un lucru ce trebuie apucat,
ci S-a golit de Sine,
luând chip de rob
    şi devenind asemenea oamenilor.
        La înfăţişare a fost găsit ca un om;[b]
    S-a smerit
        şi a devenit ascultător până la moarte şi încă moarte pe cruce.
De aceea şi Dumnezeu L-a înălţat nespus de mult
    şi I-a dăruit Numele
        care este mai presus de orice nume,
10 pentru ca în Numele lui Isus
    să se plece orice genunchi
        din cer, de pe pământ şi de sub pământ,
11 şi orice limbă să mărturisească,
    spre slava lui Dumnezeu Tatăl,
        că Isus Cristos este Domnul.

Strălucind ca nişte stele

12 De aceea, preaiubiţii mei, aşa cum întotdeauna aţi ascultat, nu doar în prezenţa mea, ci mult mai mult acum, în absenţa mea, duceţi la bun sfârşit mântuirea voastră, cu frică şi cutremur, 13 pentru că Dumnezeu este Cel Care lucrează în voi; şi astfel voi aveţi voinţă şi puteţi lucra după buna Lui plăcere. 14 Faceţi toate lucrurile fără să vă plângeţi şi fără să vă certaţi, 15 ca să fiţi fără pată şi curaţi, copii ai lui Dumnezeu în mijlocul unei generaţii necinstite şi pervertite. Străluciţi între ei ca nişte stele în univers, 16 ţinând sus[c] Cuvântul vieţii, ca să mă pot lăuda în ziua lui Cristos că n-am alergat în zadar şi că nu am trudit degeaba. 17 Şi chiar dacă sunt turnat ca o jertfă de băutură peste jertfa şi lucrarea credinţei voastre[d], eu mă bucur şi îmi împărtăşesc bucuria cu voi toţi. 18 În acelaşi fel, bucuraţi-vă şi voi şi împărtăşiţi-vă bucuria cu mine!

Timotei şi Epafrodit

19 Nădăjduiesc în Domnul Isus că vi-l voi trimite în curând pe Timotei, pentru ca şi eu să fiu încurajat de veştile despre voi. 20 Căci n-am pe nimeni care să-mi împărtăşească simţămintele ca el, fiind cu adevărat preocupat de starea voastră. 21 Toţi îşi urmăresc propriile interese, şi nu pe ale lui Cristos. 22 Voi cunoaşteţi vrednicia lui, şi anume că a lucrat cu mine pentru Evanghelie ca un copil slujindu-şi tatăl. 23 Sper să vi-l trimit imediat ce aflu cum merg lucrurile cu privire la mine 24 şi am încredere în Domnul că voi veni şi eu curând.

25 Am considerat că este necesar să vi-l trimit pe fratele Epafrodit, conlucrător şi ostaş împreună cu mine, trimisul vostru, cel pe care voi l-aţi trimis pentru a sluji nevoilor mele. 26 El a fost foarte tulburat fiindcă aţi auzit că a fost bolnav. 27 A fost atât de bolnav încât era aproape să moară, însă Dumnezeu a avut îndurare faţă de el şi nu doar faţă de el, ci şi faţă de mine, ca să nu fiu întristat peste măsură. 28 Aşadar, vi-l trimit în grabă, ca să vă bucuraţi văzându-l din nou, iar eu să nu mai fiu întristat. 29 Primiţi-l deci bine, în Domnul, cu toată bucuria, şi cinstiţi astfel de oameni! 30 Căci de dragul lucrării lui Cristos era aproape să moară, riscându-şi viaţa pentru a face, în locul vostru, acele lucruri pe care voi nu le-aţi putut face pentru mine.

Footnotes

  1. Filipeni 2:6 Sau: formă; şi în v. 7
  2. Filipeni 2:7 Unele traduceri încep vs. 8 cu acest vers
  3. Filipeni 2:16 Sau: ţinând strâns
  4. Filipeni 2:17 Vezi Ex. 29:38-41

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:

30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

S’il y a donc de l’encouragement en Christ, s'il y a de la consolation dans l'amour, s'il y a une communion de l’Esprit, s'il y a de la tendresse et de la compassion, rendez ma joie parfaite en vivant en plein accord. Ayez un même amour, un même cœur, une unité de pensée. Ne faites rien par esprit de rivalité ou par désir d’une gloire sans valeur, mais avec humilité considérez les autres comme supérieurs à vous-mêmes. Que chacun de vous, au lieu de regarder à ses propres intérêts, regarde aussi à ceux des autres.

Que votre attitude soit identique à celle de Jésus-Christ:

lui qui est de condition divine,

il n'a pas regardé son égalité avec Dieu

comme un butin à préserver,

mais il s'est dépouillé lui-même

en prenant une condition de serviteur,

en devenant semblable aux êtres humains.

Reconnu comme un simple homme,

il s'est humilié lui-même

en faisant preuve d’obéissance jusqu'à la mort,

même la mort sur la croix.

C'est aussi pourquoi Dieu l'a élevé à la plus haute place

et lui a donné le nom

qui est au-dessus de tout nom

10 afin qu'au nom de Jésus

chacun plie le genou

dans le ciel, sur la terre et sous la terre

11 et que toute langue reconnaisse

que Jésus-Christ est le Seigneur,

à la gloire de Dieu le Père.

12 Ainsi, mes bien-aimés, vous qui avez toujours obéi, non seulement quand j'étais présent, mais bien plus encore maintenant que je suis absent, mettez en œuvre votre salut avec crainte et profond respect. 13 En effet, c'est Dieu qui produit en vous le vouloir et le faire pour son projet bienveillant.

14 Faites tout sans murmures ni contestations 15 afin d'être irréprochables et purs, des enfants de Dieu sans défaut au milieu d'une génération perverse et corrompue. C’est comme des flambeaux dans le monde que vous brillez parmi eux 16 en portant la parole de vie. Je pourrai alors être fier, le jour de Christ, de n'avoir pas couru ni travaillé pour rien. 17 Et même si mon sang doit couler pour le sacrifice et le service de votre foi, j’en suis heureux et je me réjouis avec vous tous. 18 Vous aussi, soyez de même heureux et réjouissez-vous avec moi.

Envoi à Philippes de Timothée et d'Epaphrodite

19 J'espère dans le Seigneur Jésus vous envoyer bientôt Timothée afin d'être moi-même encouragé par les nouvelles que j’aurai de vous, 20 car je n'ai personne qui partage mes sentiments pour prendre vraiment votre situation à cœur. 21 Tous, en effet, cherchent leurs propres intérêts, et non ceux de Jésus-Christ. 22 Vous savez que Timothée a fait ses preuves en se consacrant au service de l'Evangile avec moi comme un enfant avec son père. 23 J'espère donc vous l'envoyer dès que je serai au clair sur ma situation. 24 Et j'ai confiance dans le Seigneur que moi aussi, je viendrai bientôt.

25 J'ai cependant estimé nécessaire de vous renvoyer mon frère Epaphrodite, mon collaborateur et mon compagnon de combat, que vous aviez envoyé afin de pourvoir à mes besoins. 26 Il désirait vous revoir tous et se tourmentait parce que vous aviez appris sa maladie. 27 Il a été malade en effet, tout près de la mort, mais Dieu a eu pitié de lui, et non seulement de lui mais aussi de moi, afin que je n'aie pas tristesse sur tristesse. 28 Je m’empresse donc de le renvoyer pour que vous puissiez vous réjouir de le revoir et que je sois moi-même moins triste. 29 Accueillez-le dans le Seigneur avec une joie sans réserve et ayez de l’estime pour de tels hommes. 30 En effet, c'est pour l'œuvre de Christ qu'il a été près de la mort; il a risqué sa vie afin de vous remplacer dans le service que vous ne pouviez pas me rendre.

Imitating Christ’s Humility

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,(A) if any tenderness and compassion,(B) then make my joy complete(C) by being like-minded,(D) having the same love, being one(E) in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.(F) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,(G) not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.(H)

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(I)

Who, being in very nature[a] God,(J)
    did not consider equality with God(K) something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing(L)
    by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(M)
    being made in human likeness.(N)
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death(O)
        even death on a cross!(P)

Therefore God exalted him(Q) to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,(R)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(S)
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(T)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(U)
    to the glory of God the Father.

Do Everything Without Grumbling

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,(V) 13 for it is God who works in you(W) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.(X)

14 Do everything without grumbling(Y) or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless(Z) and pure, “children of God(AA) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c](AB) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ(AC) that I did not run(AD) or labor in vain.(AE) 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering(AF) on the sacrifice(AG) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.(AH) 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy(AI) to you soon,(AJ) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him,(AK) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests,(AL) not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father(AM) he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.(AN) 24 And I am confident(AO) in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker(AP) and fellow soldier,(AQ) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.(AR) 26 For he longs for all of you(AS) and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,(AT) so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,(AU) 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.(AV)

Footnotes

  1. Philippians 2:6 Or in the form of
  2. Philippians 2:7 Or the form
  3. Philippians 2:15 Deut. 32:5